Thursday, February 19, 2026 2/19/2026

Northern Lights collaboration for better 2-photon probes

Award Number: U01NS094246
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2015
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2021

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Northern Lights collaboration for better 2-photon probes - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Northern Lights collaboration for better 2-photon probes will combine the expertise of four very different investigators and laboratories from Montana and Canada with complementary interests and skills to tackle a fundamental problem in imaging of the activity of the living brain. It is now well agreed that genetically encoded, fluorescent biosensors are uniquely suited to provide the specificity and versatility necessary to image the activity of defined cells in the brain. It is also clear that to image cells in thick slies or whole brains it will be necessary to turn to 2- photon (nonlinear) imaging, which penetrates deeper into living tissues and causes less damage. Furthermore, 2-photon signals provide additional molecular-level information that 1- photon signals lack. Many years have gone into developing better fluorescent proteins and biosensors for linear imaging. Unfortunately, directly optimizing probes for the 2-photon nonlinear properties has been beyond the reach of biosensor engineers because of the overwhelming complexity of the current state-of-the-art 2-photon characterization. This is a critical impediment for the BRAIN initiative, because robust 2-photon probes with high brightness and stability are needed. Here we describe a three year program to develop a new process and new instruments using available ultrafast lasers and advanced experimental designs that will empower biosensor engineers involved in the BRAIN project to evolve the next generation of multi photon probes.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2017	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY	216 MONTANA HALL	BOZEMAN	MT	59717	GALLATIN	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	10/23/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2021	2017	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY	216 MONTANA HALL	BOZEMAN	MT	59717	GALLATIN	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	3	9/3/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2021	2017	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY, INC	211 MONTANA HALL	BOZEMAN	MT	59717	GALLATIN	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	11/9/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2020	2017	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY, INC	307 MONTANA HALL	BOZEMAN	MT	59717	GALLATIN	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	11/5/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2020	2017	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY, INC	307 MONTANA HALL	BOZEMAN	MT	59717	GALLATIN	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	3	7/14/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $644,649 )
2017	2017	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY, INC	307 MONTANA HALL	BOZEMAN	MT	59717	GALLATIN	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	7/7/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$644,649
														Subtotal = $644,649

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $718,812 )
2016	2016	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY	**	BOZEMAN	MT	59717	GALLATIN	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	8/24/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$718,812
														Subtotal = $718,812

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $676,827 )
2015	2015	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY	**	BOZEMAN	MT	59717	GALLATIN	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	9/20/2015	NEW	$676,827
														Subtotal = $676,827

Grand Total All Awards = $2,040,288

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Northern Lights collaboration for better 2-photon probes

Award Number: U01NS094246

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2015

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2021

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer